On Friday British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he has noticed mild symptoms of coronavirus including a temperature and cough over the past 24 hours. He said he is isolating himself in Downing Street but said he will “continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus”.

He was last seen on Thursday night clapping outside No 10 as part of a nationwide gesture to thank NHS staff who are fighting the emergency situation putting their lives at risk. The 55-year-old Mr Johnson posted a video on his Twitter account saying, “Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus,” he said on Twitter, posting a video message.

“I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus,” he wrote.

“Be in no doubt that I can continue thanks to the wizardry of modern technology to communicate with all my top team to lead the national fightback against coronavirus,” he added in the video message.

“So thank you to everybody who’s doing what I’m doing, working from home to stop the spread of the virus from household to household,” he added.

“That’s the way we’re going to win.”

The Prime Minister is in the flat above 11 Downing Street which is now sealed off. He is now working from the office and his meals are being left at the door of the flat, said a Downing Street spokesperson. Johnson’s partner Carrie Symonds is pregnant and she experienced mild symptoms on Thursday and was tested positive for COVID-19. The UK has confirmed a total of 11,658 coronavirus cases so far with 578 deaths. Earlier this week, Prince Charles, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, was also tested positive for the virus.